Black Meetings and Tourism

May-June 2010

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U.S. AMBASSADOR NICOLE AVANT ATTENDS TRAVEL PROFESSIONALS OF COLOR OPENING CEREMONIES Ambassador Nicole A. Avant gave welcoming remarks at the opening of the Travel Professionals of Color annual con- ference at the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort in The Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx) at Toronto’s Lula Lounge, was anchored by a glittering evening of music and entertainment and augmented by direct approaches to indi- viduals and organizations. She noted it “was a heartwarming reminder of how generous Torontonians of vastly differing backgrounds can be.” Recalling the “Haiti Carnival” at the Lula Lounge clashed with the Olympic hockey final between the US and Canada, Habchi said she was moved and impressed by the number of people who turned up to support the evening’s bill of stellar Caribbean musicians and the Canadian-Israeli entertainer, Haim Goldenberg of TV fame. Habchi, who hails from the Pacific island of Samoa and received her education in Lebanon, said she was delighted when celebrating hockey fans reached by phone added their contributions after the momentous Olympic Gold Medal game. She issued a special note of thanks to Canadian philanthropist Walter Arbib who orchestrated more than $350,000 worth of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies. Arbib assembled a shipment of medi- cines for Haiti from SkyLink Aviation, Shalom Life Canadian Jewish On Line News, the United Jewish Appeal on behalf of Israel, and the airport security company, AviSecure. “A few people went home very happy indeed carrying with them stays at the top resorts in the Caribbean,” recalled Habchi. Top world resort, Jade Mountain, its sister property Anse Bahamas. In her remarks, the Ambassador reiterated her commitment to advancing partnerships between American and Bahamian businesses, especially in the area of cultural heritage tourism. She said, “Many American tourists – par- ticularly minority American tourists – are looking for a more substantial interaction with The Bahamian people and their history. These individuals are looking to form personal con- nections with this beautiful land, and, for this reason, I am very encouraged to see that you will spend much of your agenda discussing the development of Cultural Heritage Tourism in The Bahamas and throughout the Caribbean Region.” MULTIPLE CANADIANGROUPS BACK HAITI Entertainers and Corporations Unite to Help Haiti More than CAD $350,000 was raised for the survivors of the Haiti earthquake from West Indian musicians, an Israeli entertainer, three Canadian companies and a Jewish philan- thropy. And, if that’s not multinational enough – the fundrais- ing drive was organized by a young lady from the South Pacific working with a Caribbean media organization. Maria Noa Habchi said the campaign, held in concert with the 30 Chastanet, and the favorite of professionals, Coco Palm, all from Saint Lucia, along with the Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa contributed prizes for the evening’s auction. Nancy Rivard, president of Airline Ambassadors International, and major recipient of the fundraising cam- paign, said she was “humbled by the generosity of Torontonians,” adding the support, “comes at an important time as the rains start bringing with it an increased danger of infection and disease.” Airline Ambassadors, made up of volunteers drawn from the staff of 12 airlines, has arranged and flown into Haiti some 600 doctors and nurses as well as close to three million pounds worth of medical and other assistance to the clinics and orphanages it supports. Set up almost a decade ago, CMEx provides a neutral platform for the discussion of tourism as a development tool. Pictured here, MC Miko from Venezuela kept the evening in order. Black Meetings & Tourism May/June 2010: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com

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